NO doubt encouraged by the previous week's victory over Carlsberg West Cheshire League Division One leaders Poulton Victoria, Mark Jones sent his Aintree Villa troops into battle against Bootle in the Liverpool FA Challenge Cup semi-final, and saw his side emerge 5-0 victors.
A blistering double from Dave Hyland was supplemented by further efforts from Kevin Kirkpatrick, Tony Carroll and Mark Sterling, as a confident Villa shortened the odds in their bid for a Liverpool Challenge and Lancashire FA Amateur cup double.
Ashville's second team secured their place in the Wirral FA Amateur Cup final thanks to a crucial contribution from Gordon Harrison. The flying Scotsman hit both goals as the Wallasey outfit over-came determined battlers FC Pensby 2-0.
Current Division Three leaders, West Kirby Reserves will provide the opposition in Easter Monday's final, after a Mike Burns double was supplemented by a Kevin Oates effort, and an own goal, in Saturday's 4-0 eclipse of New Brighton's second string.
Finalists for the Runcorn Challenge Cup were resolved after Division Two side, Helsby edged ACT RFC 4-3, and Division One counterparts Runcorn Town eclipsed Stockton Lane 3-1.
On the domestic scene, Poulton Victoria stayed four points ahead in the race for the Division One title after two-goal Andy Cavanagh, Craig Nall and Dave Hyton struck in the 4-2 win at Mallaby. Steve McShane hit both goals for the hosts.
Second-placed West Kirby maintained interest after a Steve Thompson hat-trick anchored the Marine Park outfit to a comfortable 4-1 win at Merseyside Police.
Reigning champions Heswall were indebted to efforts from Andy Barker, John Paul Stanhope and Gary Reay which safeguarded a narrow 3-2 win against Castrol Social, while two-goal Dave Thompson took the plaudits in Maghull's 2-0 win against Cammell Laird Reserves.
Chris Lawler, Justin Broadbent, Dave McDermott and Liam Kelly netted for Ashville in their 4-3 decision over New Brighton, who hit back through Mike Pickles (2) and Neil Atherton.
Division Two leaders Maghull Reserves increased their advantage at the top to five points, but forfeited two points after they finished 3-3 with Chester Nomads.
Willaston's 1-0 result against Runcorn Town Reserves, featured a goal from Lee Cairns. Ian Sheridan and Kevin Fitzsimons both bagged doubles in Poulton Vics Reserves' 6--0 rout of bottom club, Christleton Reserves.
Bebington Athletic scored through Matty Earnshaw, but wasted the chance to peg back West Kirby Reserves lead at the top of Division Three, following a 1-1 stalemate at bottom club Shaftesbury.
RESULTS: Thursday, February 7: Shield semi-final: Manweb Reserves 1 (John Thompson) New Brighton Reserves 2 (Lee Davey, Niko Kyriezis).
Saturday: Division One: Ashville 4 (Chris Lawler, Juston Broadbent, Dave McDermott, Liam Kelly) New Brighton 3 (Mike Pickles (2), Neil Atherton), Heswall 3 (John Stanhope, Gary Reay, Andy Barker) Castrol Social 2 (Steve Finlay, Simon Thelwell), Maghull 2 (Dave Thompson (2)) Cammell Laird Reserves 0, Mallaby 2 (McShane (2)) Poulton Victoria 4 (Andy Cavanag (2), Craig Norwell, Dave Hyton), Merseyside Police 1 West Kirby 4 (Steve Thompson (3), Liam Atherton), Newton 0 Ellesmere Port 0.
Division Two: Capen-hurst Villa v Halton - postponed,, Chester Nomads 3 (Tom Sutcliffe, Dale Harris, Dan Riley) Maghull Reserves 3 (Joe Garvey, Gavin Williams, D Parvas), Poulton Victoria Reserves 6 (Ian Burrows, Joe Hewson, Ian Sherridan (2) Kevin Fitzsimon (2)) Christleton Reserves 0, Willaston 1 (Lee Cairns) Runcorn Town Reserves 0.
Division Three: Ellesmere Port Reserves 1 (Paul Stevenson) Focus 0, Manor Athletic 1 (Jack Postlewaite) Grange Atheltic 1 (John Thelwall), Manweb Reserves 2 (John Bennett, Carl McGary) Bronze Social 3 (Paul Coventry (2), Shaun Cassidy), Mersey Royal 2 (Michael Skillen (2)) MBNA 0, Merseyside Police Reserves 6 (James Swettenham (2), Shaun Curlett, Paul Curlett, Victor Charles (2)) Upton AA Reserves 2 (James Andrews, (og)), Shaftesbury 1 (Scott Houghton) AFC Bebington Athletic 1 ( Matty Earnshaw).
Youth Subsiduary Cup Competition: Merseyside Police v Maghull - postponed,, Poulton Victoria v West Kirby - postponed.
Liverpool FA Challenge Cup semi-final: Bootle 0 Aintree Villa 5 (Dave Hyland (2), Kevin Kirkpatrick, Tony Carroll, Mark Sterling).
Wirral Amateur Cup semi-finals: FC Pensby 0 Ashville 2 (Gordon Harrison (2)), West Kirby 4 (Kevin Oats, Michael Burns (2) (og)) New Brighton 0.
Chester Senior Cup round three: Upton AA 2 (Mike Gerrard, Martin Gaulton) Saltney Vets 1, Blacon YC 3 (Kevin Jones (2), Joey Desomeaux) Christleton 2 (Chris Herbert, Paul Sweeney), St Werburgh's 4 (Alan Richardson (2), Danny Redford, Matty Dupuis) Duddon United 1.
Runcorn Senior Cup semi -finals: Stockton Lane 1 Runcorn Town 3 (Gary Lunt, Ian Cocks, Ged Bushell), Helsby 4 (Dave Richards, Ryan Maloney (2), Luke Guest) ACT RFC 3.
